Christopher T. “Chris” Astbury, 62, of rural Parsons, died at 1:48 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at his home.

He was born July 31, 1949, in Bridgewater, Vt., to Charles and Blanche R. (Westcott) Astbury. He grew up in Vermont, where he attended schools and was a 1968 graduate of Woodstock Union High School. He later attended Emporia State University, where he earned an associate degree. 

Through the years he worked as a custom harvester and later a licensed practical nurse at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, retiring Nov. 1, 2011.

He was a member of the Church of Christ in Parsons and the Chief Black Dog’s Trail Muzzleloading Club. He enjoyed gardening, building and tending to koi ponds, black powder rifles, animals and helping others. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and participating in muzzleloader rendezvous.

He married Teresa (Lewis) Anderson on Jan. 7, 2009, in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Matt Astbury and his wife, Sarah, of Lowell, Ore., and Michael Anderson of Parsons; a daughter, Christy Thornton and her husband, Michael, of Springfield, Ore.; seven grandchildren; three brothers, Charles Astbury of Bridgewater, Vt., Nick Astbury of Lady Lake, Fla., and Ted Astbury of Denver.

He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.